246 WHALE-FISHERY. 



second, a tliird, or even a fourtli, in proportion to 

 tlic nature of the exigence. The utmost care and 

 attention are requisite, on the part of every person 

 in the boat, when the lines are running out ; fatal 

 consequences having been sometimes produced by 

 the most trifling neglect. When the line happens 

 " to run foul," and cannot be cleared on the instant, 

 it sometimes draws the boat under water ; on which, 

 if no auxiliary boat, or convenient piece of ice, be at 

 hand, the crew are plunged into the sea, and are 

 obliged to trust to the buoyancy of their oars or to 

 their skill in swimming, for supporting themselves 

 on the surface. To provide against such an acci- 

 dent, as well as to be ready to furnish an additional 

 supply of lines, it is usual, when boats are sent in 

 pursuit, for two to go out in company ; and when a 

 whale has been struck, for the first assisting boat 

 which approaches, to join the fast-boat, and to stay 

 by it, until the fish reappears. The other boats 

 likewise make towards the one carrying a flag, and 

 surround it at various distances, awaiting the ap- 

 pearance of the v/ounded whale. 



On my first voyage to the whale-fishery, such an 

 accident as above alluded to, occurred. A thousand 

 fathoms of line were already out, and the fast-boat 

 was forcibly pressed against the side of a piece of 

 ice. The harpooner, in his anxiety to retard 

 the flight of the whale, applied too many turns 

 of the line round the bollard, which, getting en- 



